12 Best Dating Sites & Apps In The UK To Meet Singles Online In 2023

There are over 8K dating sites on the web, but which works best for singles in the UK? We’ve selected the 12 best platforms, so take a look and learn more about each!

Spotlight Desk

Updated on: 18 July 2023 6:50 am

Best Dating Sites and Apps in the UK

In 2020, 28 million people in the UK were single compared to 24 million people who were married. So, where should they look for perfect matches? There are many websites that are supposed to work well for singles from the United Kingdom, and here, you'll find the best 11 of them!

Top 12 dating sites in the UK

EliteSingles?— best for meeting educated singles
SilverSingles?— best place for mature singles to find a perfect match among peers
C-Date?— a top dating website to find like-minded people
Cupid.com?— the most versatile online dating platform for singles in the UK
Be2?— best dating website for video chatting
AcademicSingles?— top platform for young professionals with video calls
Singles50?— best online dating website for older singles with video chat
AskMe4Date?— a great online dating site for beginners to get started
FriendFinder?— best platform for all types of relationships
Ashley Madison?— best for finding casual dates in the UK
uk.match.com?— dating website with the highest success rate
OurTime?— the most popular platform for singles over 50

1. EliteSingles

Key takeaways:

60 to 40 male-to-female ratio
Designed for educated singles only
Extensive personality test & free matchmaking to find a perfect partner

Why did we choose it?

EliteSingles?is a niche dating website, which means it works only for a particular category of users, and in this case, it's educated singles with at least a bachelor's degree. On this dating app, people aren't looking for something casual—it's designed for people who're serious about finding a partner and building a deep emotional connection. The algorithm will help them find a perfect match faster and much more easily. Every newcomer must take a deep personality test, and compatibility is estimated based on the results.

Who is it for?

Educated professionals looking for like-minded partners
People seeking serious relationships
Those who take matchmaking seriously

Features we liked:

Personality test—answering questions takes time, but you will not only see your results but also the results of other users
Suggested matches—you don't have to manually search for matches, but you can set your search criteria if you want to
Wildcard matches—in case you wish to explore people who don't meet only one or two of your criteria
Read receipts—members get notified when someone reads their messages

Pros & cons:

? Active members motivated to find a partner
? iOS and Android dating apps available to mobile users
? Prices are not too high compared to alternatives
? Free results of personality tests
? No free unlimited messaging
? Free members can't see profile photos

If intelligence and level of education are your top priorities, join EliteSingles, take a personality test, look at the profiles, and decide whether you'd like to stay or move on to other dating platforms.

2. SilverSingles

Key takeaways:

A dating website designed exclusively for singles over 50
Over a million monthly visits, a 60% to 40% male-to-female ratio
Advanced matchmaking for people looking for a soulmate

Why did we choose it?

SilverSingles?is one of the best dating sites for mature singles who are ready to start a new serious relationship with someone special. Though it may seem that it's just a dating platform for a certain age group, it's not exactly true as it's also one of the best platforms that provide matchmaking services. Every new member takes a personality test, and the advanced algorithm finds and suggests only the best matches for every single person on the website.

Who is it for?

Singles over 50
People looking for true love
Those who'd like to use algorithms instead of making random choices

Features we liked:

Personality test—a great deep test with dozens of questions about you, your life, and dating preferences
Have You Met feature—for those who like swiping better
Search filters—for those who want to customize the search a bit
Online messenger—works great and is convenient to use

Pros & cons:

? Real people seeking serious relationships in the UK
? Great moderation and security system
? Relatively low prices compared to the best dating site in this segment of the market
? Accurate compatibility scores
? Dating app is available only to premium users
? No video chat

If you'd like to learn more about yourself and your potential matches, SilverSingles will be just the perfect platform for you. Though taking a personality test takes time, it's absolutely worth it.

3. C-Date

Key takeaways:

A popular dating platform for open-minded people in the UK with over 25,000 users joining every day
The system finds matches based on your specific criteria
Works for all categories of singles looking for different types of relationships

Why did we choose it?

Some assume that?C-Date?is a place for people looking for different types of relationships. You can indicate what exactly you are looking for on the website when signing up, and that will make the algorithm work.?

Also, this is a modern platform with an innovative approach and some great features like contact proposals, contact suggestions, defining your erotic/relationship type, and of course, a great online messenger.

Who is it for?

Singles who'd like to meet similar-minded people
Users looking for casual relationships
Men and women looking for long-term relationships

Features we liked:

Erotic type—lets others know what you are looking for in a relationship
Messenger—works great and is easy to use
Moderation—all pictures you share on the website are manually checked
Privacy settings—you can show or hide your photos from others

Pros & cons:

? Open-minded singles
? Free registration
? Intuitive interface
? High-quality matchmaking
? No advanced communication features
? No free unlimited messaging

If you'd like to meet different people, enjoy communication in real-time, and get a good chance to meet someone special, choose C-Date—the prices are reasonable, and there may be some generous seasonal discounts for members.

4. Cupid.com

Key takeaways:

A dating site with over 300K monthly visits, most from the UK
Works for all categories of singles
One of the most active communities

Why did we choose it?

Cupid.com?actually works like Cupid—it doesn't choose people who meet certain criteria to help them fall in love and works for all singles who'd like to find a partner. It's a relatively new platform, so unlike the most popular dating apps, it doesn't have millions of members, but it's growing pretty rapidly. It's no surprise considering that the response rate here is very high, everyone can join for free and get some serious discounts if they want to upgrade and start communicating with others using plenty of great communication features.

Who is it for?

Users looking for mid-rate dating websites and apps
All singles interested in online dating
People looking for serious long-term relationships

Features we liked:

Fast and free registration—you can join the website just in a few minutes
Priority support—if a member upgrades their account, they get it automatically
Free search—there are a lot of great filters to apply to find a perfect match
Great online messenger—it works pretty much like messengers on social media

Pros & cons:

? Profile promotion for all newcomers
? Transparent pricing policy
? All photos shared by members are checked by moderators
? Newcomers can buy premium for just one week
? No dating app
? No free trial

If you'd like to try a new and promising dating website and meet a lot of singles with different relationship goals, join this community, learn more about how the system works, and stay for a bit longer if it's good for you.

5. Be2

Key takeaways:

Over 2M monthly visits from people looking for a serious relationship
60 to 40 male-to-female ratio?
Dating apps for both Android and iOS users are available

Why did we choose it?

Be2?is one of the best dating sites available to singles in different countries, including the UK. It's not for casual dating, though—it's rather a place where people looking for serious relationships meet. The unique matchmaking system of Be2 allows finding the best potential answers automatically based on the answers that a user gives when taking a personality test. There are also many great features to use, from good old text chat to video chat and picture voting.

Who is it for?

Singles in the UK looking for a safe dating app
People looking for serious relationships instead of casual dates
Men and women who'd like to build a deep emotional connection online before they meet IRL

Features we liked:

Profile promotion—you can get a lot of attention right after the registration is complete by using the Promotion feature
Questions to break the ice—members can answer additional questions to make it easier for others to contact them
Video calls—they make Be2 a much safer dating space for all registered users
Picture votes—members who like to share their photos can promote their profile in an interactive way

Pros & cons:

? Video calls
? Advanced matchmaking algorithm
? Detailed profiles
? Daily matches for every registered user
? Doesn't work for queer women and men
? Free membership doesn't let you communicate with others

If you're ready to settle down and want to choose a safe dating platform where you'd be able to make a video call to almost any member, just join Be2—it's definitely worth giving a try.

6. AcademicSingles

Key takeaways:

A website for young professionals looking for love
About a million monthly visits, 30% of the audience are people aged 25-34
Nearly equal male-to-female ratio

Why did we choose it?

As the name of the dating website suggests,?AcademicSingles?is an online dating service created especially for intellectual singles, and it has much to offer to a user, but not for a user with a free membership. On this premium platform, you can do some things for free, for example, sign up, take a great personality test, see your most compatible matches, and view profiles, but the best features, namely messaging and video calls, can be used only by members who've already got a paid membership plan.

Who is it for?

Singles with bachelor's degrees or higher
People motivated to find long-term relationships
Users who believe that matchmaking actually works

Features we liked:

Two-way video calls—the best feature to connect people online
Secret albums—for those who are seeking some extra privacy
Live chat—works great and is very easy to use
Personality test—guarantees that on this website, you won't have to make random choices

Pros & cons:

? Great place to narrow the search down to similar-minded people
? Transparent pricing policy, average prices
? Good security and moderation systems
? Many special features
? Hard to cancel a subscription
? Not all profiles are active

It's not always easy to find a like-minded partner either online or in real life. Academic Singles offers a solution, so if you need one, why not give it a try?

7. Singles50

Key takeaways:

One of the best dating sites for older singles in the UK
Over 2M monthly visits, the platform is available worldwide
Free dating apps are available on both App Store and Google Play Store

Why did we choose it?

Singles50?is one of the great niche dating websites created for a specific category of singles—people in their 50s, and older, who'd like to find a perfect match among peers. The dating pool, however, isn't the only benefit of using the website. It offers security, full control, and anonymity by providing them with multiple tools to customize the settings, contact others, and enjoy a safe dating experience. It also has video chat, and that's already a good reason to choose it.

Who is it for?

Older singles looking for love
Users who'd like to make video calls right on the website
Men and women interested in serious relationships rather than something casual

Features we liked:

Video calls—a great feature to see your potential date before you actually meet IRL
Secret photos—you can restrict access to your photos
Compatibility test—what Singles50 matchmaking system is based on
Promotion of new accounts—new members send messages to all the best potential matches

Pros & cons:

? Modern design, intuitive interface
? Women can send free messages
? Mobile apps work great, too
? Good data encryption software, safe payment methods
? No bonuses for newcomers
? No free unlimited messaging

So, it's one of the best websites with lots of special features and legit members—if that's what you were looking for, join this community and enjoy a new experience!

8. AskMe4Date

Key takeaways:

A dating site that is supposed to work for all categories of singles regardless of their relationship goals
Over 1 million active monthly users
Members all over the globe, the most active communities in the UK, US, and Australia

Why did we choose it?

AskMe4Date?is one of the top dating sites and apps in the market. It's available worldwide, but it has a serious user base in the United Kingdom. So, what's good about it? Multiple things, actually. It's one of the best websites for beginners as it works for all categories of singles and is really easy to use. Also, every newcomer can use a free profile boost to get a lot of attention right away, 5 free messages a day are granted to everyone who makes enough effort to create a detailed profile, and there are a lot of active members really motivated to find a partner on this dating site.

Who is it for?

Beginners looking for a simple yet effective dating site
People with all relationship goals
Singles looking for a not-too-expensive platform to find a perfect match

Features we liked:

Flirtcast—mass emailing with the question of the day that lets you contact a lot of your best matches simultaneously
Search—there are enough free search filters and some extra filters that premium members can use (With a Photo filter is available to everyone)
Free likes—an easy way to let someone know you're interested in communication
Instant chat—a great messenger that works like messengers on most top social networking sites

Pros & cons:

? Very active and friendly community
? Members are encouraged to create detailed profiles
? Easy ways to boost your profile
? Transparent pricing policy, no hidden costs
? Many members add just 1-2 photos
? No full free access to all the information on profiles

Join the site now and get a special discount for a premium plan! If you are not ready to upgrade at the moment, it won't be a problem—if you add a photo, you'll get 5 free messages a day.

9. FriendFinder

Key takeaways:

A half social networking a half social media website
200+ thousand monthly visits, large user base in the UK
70/30% male-to-female ratio

Why did we choose it?

FriendFinder is different from most other dating sites and apps in the market. The thing is it works as a social networking website and a dating website, combining different features and providing a new kind of experience for members. There are blogs and forums, an online messenger to start private conversations, virtual gifts, the opportunity to share videos and watch videos uploaded by other members, and even live streams. Most importantly, you can communicate with others even if you have a free membership. FriendFinder also works for all singles, regardless of their relationship goals.

Who is it for?

People looking for serious relationships and deep commitments
Users who'd like to meet new friends
Singles who are into more casual relationships

Features we liked:

Live streams—there are a lot of live shows to watch, including some really hot ones
Interactive Magazine—a forum where members can ask questions and just communicate
Polls—you can become a popular member on the site and vote for others
Video greetings—allows boosting your popularity and is available for free

Pros & cons:

? A lot of special features, including video streaming
? Free members can communicate with each other
? A hub with a lot of content from members
? There are some fake profiles
? Access to information and some features is still limited for free users

If you're curious about online dating and want to find a versatile website to communicate with singles and see how it goes, set up an account on FriendFinder—it's completely free, and start your first conversations with your best matches!?

10. Ashley Madison

Key takeaways:

Formerly known as one of the best dating sites for affairs, now a popular casual dating website
Tens of millions of members worldwide, but men outnumber women
Women are encouraged to join the community, and messaging for them is free

Why did we choose it?

Deep commitments aren't something that literally all people seek. Some singles prefer casual dating or affair relationships, and if you're one of them, Ashley will work perfectly for you. It's not just an affair website anymore—it offers more than just that and works for all categories of singles.?

Also, it has significantly improved its security, so your data is safe. There are a lot of features protecting your privacy, some great communication tools, and tens of millions of members, a lot of whom are currently in the United Kingdom.

Who is it for?

Open-minded singles looking for new partners
People seeking casual dates
Straight and gay users looking for perfect matches

Features we liked:

Messaging—the messenger works great, and starting a chat doesn't cost a fortune
Priority Mails—are highlighted in a recipient's inbox
Advanced search—a lot of filters, all free to use
Full access to profiles—no hidden information or photos (unless a member adds them to a secret album)

Pros & cons:

? One of the best dating apps with a great dating pool
? Women don't pay
? Transparent pricing, fixed costs for unlocking conversations
? Special features to get more attention on the website
? Not the best for a person looking for a long-term relationship
? Not-so-detailed profiles

Ashley is still going strong, and if you want to become a part of this community, create an account—you'll be using it free if you're a woman, and it won't cost you a fortune if you're a man.

11. uk.Match.com

Key takeaways:

An incredibly popular online dating app with over 23M monthly visits
65/35 male/female ratio
One of the rare online dating sites that arrange meetings in real life

Why did we choose it?

Match.com is one of the most popular dating websites in the world, and it has millions of members in the United Kingdom. What's so special about it? Pretty much everything—this online dating app has it all, from the great dating pool of people looking for serious relationships and marriage to lots of success stories and special features, from video dates to Incognito mode and Zen Mode to let only the best potential partner contact you. Also, as the name of the platform suggests, here, you'll be able to choose among the best potential matches chosen based on multiple criteria.

Who is it for?

Marriage-focused singles and people looking for serious relationships
Users who'd like to join an online dating website with lots of features
Those who don't mind getting premium to use the best services

Features we liked:

Video dates—you can meet in real time before you go on an offline date
Go Anonymous feature—if you want to view other users' profiles discreetly, you can do it easily
Detailed profiles—low-effort profiles are banned from the dating website
Matches in every big city—there are sister sites for singles in London, South England, East England, Norfolk, Sussex, etc.

Pros & cons:

? Some of the best selection of features in the market
? More users in the UK than most other dating websites have
? Safe dating app due to the video call feature
? Free members can reply to some of the Premium members' messages for free
? The competition for men is pretty high
? Not one of those entirely free dating sites UK

Match works best for people seeking two things—diversity and high quality of services, so if these are your priorities, too, create an account and enjoy communication with singles in the UK.

12. OurTime

Key takeaways:

Designed for singles over 50 looking for different types of relationships
Nearly 7M monthly visits, 65% to 35% male-to-female ratio
Location-based matching helps finding partners in your area

Why did we choose it?

OurTime is one of the dating sites that don't try to attract as many members from all categories as possible but focus only on one category of singles—mature women and men looking for similar-minded people. Most importantly, it has them covered.?

It has one of the widest selections of features aimed to create a safe environment for users and provide the best dating experience, good matchmaking algorithm, and a transparent pricing policy. Also, just like Match, it helps arrange singles events in real life and has some sister websites for those who'd like to meet partners in a particular city in the UK.

Who is it for?

Users looking for the best dating sites for finding local partners
Singles looking for true love online
People who'd like to meet like-minded friends or start a serious relationship with someone special

Features we liked:

Video conversations—great feature for everyone who has safety concerns
Tips and advice—singles who need help can get it not only from the support team but also from the best dating experts
Data encryption—all the information that a user provides, as well as financial data, are safe?
Moderated & detailed profiles—low-effort profiles just like all the suspicious accounts are suspended

Pros & cons:

? Modern website with an intuitive interface
? Profile promotion for all newcomers
? Your profile can be shown but users of sister websites
? Profile boosts for premium users
? No free unlimited messaging
? Members with different relationship goals

OurTime is the best when it comes to local dating. Join the community to see if there's someone attractive near you!

Pricing of dating sites in the UK

Dating Service

UK Price, ￡

EliteSingles

￡24.95 — ￡44.95 per month

C-Date

￡9.90 — ￡39.90 per month

Be2

￡19.99 — ￡39.99 per month

uk.match.com

￡9.99 — ￡29.99 per month

Cupid.com

￡23.52 — ￡47.19 per month (there is a 1-week option for ￡16)

AcademicSingles

￡19.99 — ￡39.99 per month

SilverSingles

￡24.95 — ￡44.95 per month

Singles50

€19.99 — €39.99 per month

AskMe4Date

￡0.99 — ￡2.29 per day

FriendFinder

￡8.40 — ￡27.16

OurTime

￡9.99 — ￡29.99 per month

Secret Benefits

￡47 per 100 credits —? ￡228 per 1,000 credits

Seeking

￡83.32 — ￡234.95 per month

Ashley Madison

￡46.99 per 100 credits — ￡214.99 for 1,000 credits

Our editor's conclusion

There are a lot of websites that claim to work well enough for singles from the United Kingdom, but as in all other cases, blindly trusting ads is a bad idea. I'd recommend everyone do some research on the online dating market, setting their own priorities, and then making the choice.

FAQ

How to use online dating sites effectively?

First and foremost, you need to choose the right dating website that meets your specific criteria and can connect you with similar-minded people. Then, you'll need to create a really good profile with lots of useful information for others, use search and matchmaking services to meet new people, communicate, and go on dates—it's that simple.

How to avoid dating scams?

You need to follow some important safety rules. First, don't agree to send money or even accept it from a stranger—it's always a scam. Second, protect your own financial and personal information. Third, avoid following any links from strangers. Finally, be careful with any media files you share with people you meet online—make sure they can't be used for blackmailing.

What are the safest dating sites in the UK?

Elite Singles, Secret Benefits, SilverSingles, and Singles50 can be considered the best dating sites in the UK in terms of safety. If you're looking for alternatives, you can find them in our guide. Also, you can search for a perfect website yourself—learn everything about the policy of the platform, make sure the moderation system works properly, and that there are no hidden costs.

Which dating sites are completely free in the UK?

There are many popular mainstream dating apps like Tinder, but niche websites are usually only partially free. There are some platforms like Ashley Madison and Secret Benefits that let female members send messages without paying,

What is the best dating site for a serious relationship?

Elite Singles can be considered the best dating site for a serious relationship. If you're looking for alternatives, try Be2, Match.co.uk, or Silver Singles.

What is the best casual dating site in the UK?

C-Date, as well as Seeking and Ashley Madison, can be considered the best dating apps for casual dating in the UK. Learn more about each dating platform and make your choice based on your priorities.

What is the best dating site for over 50s in the UK?

We'd recommend choosing between SilverSingles and Singles50—these are the two top platforms that, unlike other dating sites, don't accept all singles but only users in their late forties and older.

What is the best international dating site in the UK?

Seeking.com can be considered the best international dating site in the UK. It isn't restricted in most countries of the world and has some of the best communication features in the online dating market.

Disclaimer:

The above is a sponsored post, the views expressed are those of the sponsor/author and do not represent the stand and views of Outlook Editorial.